Is Alexa finally making the internet
accessible for older people?

Tuesday 19th December, 2017

Technology has moved on in leaps and bounds
over the past couple of decades, and the advent of high speed internet has
opened up all sorts of new possibilities for learning, playing and staying in
touch. However, new technology has always been thought of as something for
younger people, and older people, who were not brought up with computers around
them, have traditionally been stumped by many of these modern facilities.

But could recent advances in tech be about
to change all that? We look at the impact voice activated technology could have
on the older generation, and how things are looking for the future.

Voice technology: The internet, without a PC

The Amazon Echo and Dot are wireless
speakers which are connected to the internet, allowing users to search the web
and much more by communicating with its in built artificial intelligence,
Alexa. These gadgets were two of the most popular Christmas presents in 2016,
and are set to be equally popular during this festive season.

Of course, Alexa is not the only voice
assistant out there. Cortana from Microsoft and Siri from Apple have been
around much longer, but it is Alexa who has harnessed the convenience of being always
on, sitting in the lounge or kitchen, ready to answer all your questions. And,
when it comes to integrating this technology with the ‘smart’ home, the
possibilities are endless.

Ageing in place

For older people who are still living
independently, tech like Alexa can be hooked up to various items around the
home, to make day to day living safer and more convenient. For example:

· Alexa can connect to heating
systems, to control the thermostat and switch heating on and off when people
leave the house or arrive home.

· It can be hooked up to lights
too, to avoid lights being left on when rooms are not in use, or to give the
impression someone is home when they are actually away visiting.

· Alexa will organise shopping
lists through voice activation, and can even order products from Amazon
directly.

· You can ask about the weather,
hear the news headlines or can even play your favourite music.

· As Alexa is voice activated, it
could be used to summon help, for instance in the event of a fall.

The possibilities for Alexa to help people
who are ageing in place are phenomenal. From tackling loneliness to making life
safer, it’s truly an exciting time for voice activated technology. Of course,
these things need to be set up, and also require a permanent Wi-Fi connection,
something that not all older people will be keen to become involved with, but
in a willing household with tech savvy friends or relatives to help, elderly
people could be more able to enjoy the benefits of the internet than ever
before.

The internet in the care environment

At Fernhill House, the potential
for Alexa and other voice operated technology is very exciting. Although we
don’t yet have such facilities in place, we do have Wi-Fi throughout and plenty
of willing care workers ready to help at any time. Many of our residents enjoy
Skyping with their families, as well as using the internet, with our support,
to find information and connect with other people.

We also use technology such as Acoustic
Monitoring to benefit the well-being of our residents. Acoustic Monitoring
listens, non-intrusively, to residents while they’re sleeping and triggers an
alert when the sound in a room exceeds set levels. This enables our care team
to respond to residents in need of care. And because residents are not disturbed
by in-room monitoring visits, they benefit from a better night’s sleep while
enjoying greater privacy.

We are excited to see how technology develops,
and how it can be applied in our care setting to improve the lives of our
residents.